DPRK urges S. Korea to cancel military drill with U.S. unconditionally

PYONGYANG, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday urged South Korea to cancel its military exercises with the United States, warning that the drill "will push the situation to the brink of a war."

Demanding unconditional cancellation of the Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) military drill scheduled for this month, DPRK also asked South Korean authorities to stop depending on foreign forces and pull down barriers that impede the nation's unity and reconciliation, the official KCNA news agency reported.

This is part of a three-point proposal to Seoul issued by the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, one day ahead of the 69th anniversary of the liberation of Korea from Japan's colonial rule from 1910 to 1945.

"South Korean authorities should roll back their policy of depending on foreign forces and settle the issue of north-south relations by the concerted efforts of the nation," the statement said.

The DPRK also urged Seoul to respect all concluded agreements and take practical actions to consistently honor them, no matter who heads the administration.

If these agreements are implemented in good faith, such issues as the humanitarian cause, connection of railroads and social cooperation can be satisfactorily settled, it added.

Meanwhile, the statement also asked South Korea to end slander and hostilities against each other, and to remove institutional mechanisms that block contact and exchange between north and south.

The DPRK called on South Korean authorities to positively respond to the proposal and hoped to realize national reunification to mark the 70th anniversary of the nation's liberation next year.